I must make the point, however, that I have read in a national newspaper and heard from the landlord of a large, chain-owned public house that smoking after July 1 might well be deemed an offence under the ban if it takes place on pub premises, such as beer gardens, even though they are outdoors. I do not like to tell organisations what they should do on behalf of their members but I think the British Association of Pool Table Operators should investigate this matter, if it has not already done so, before any of their members and their customers become liable to heavy fines. Rustic to beat the ban Stan McKenna’s Excel Leisure has even produced a new table, the Rustic, for use on outdoor sites. McKenna told me: “We have monitored the situation over the last two years in Ireland and we have seen a growth in canopy covered outdoor areas to accommodate smokers. “The areas have overhead heating for all-the-year round use and I think the situation could be mirrored in England after July 1.” The Rustic table was introduced in January at the ATEI. McKenna described it as constructed from actual decking with an external quality plywood finish, internal weatherproofed slate supports, rubber coated corners to seal the joints, powder coated feet and Simonis 760 rainproof and non-fade protective cloth. I have seen white outdoor pool tables designed for Mediterraean sites but, as McKenna added, a long hot summer such as occurred last year could see the Rustic tables used by those who preferred fresh air to indoors. Excel Leisure also appears to be looking to popularise 8-ball pool in alternative sites to the traditional pub and pool club sites. The company’

s stand at the ATEI included the newly developed Arcadia, Magna and Panther tables designed and finished to suit specific locations. The Arcadia and the Magna tables are aimed at amusement arcades, centres and bowling alleys respectively. Both have multi-coloured designs which, unlike the customary mahogany finish tables, do not look out of place among bright, cheerfully lit amusement machines. The Panther, with a less colourful but decorated finish, is considered to be suited to night clubs and similar venues. Excel’s note acceptor, the first of its kind for pool tables, appeared on a beech-finished, mains-operated table on which the £5, £10 and £20 notes acceptor was accommodated in the ball drawer with a standard coin acceptor. The company believes its efforts to improve price of play alternatives with variable time modes are better than tampering with the game itself, The notes acceptor is available on the company’s mains operated Mayfair, Galaxy and Laser tables as well as the Spirit. Superleague spares boost Eric Lewis, of Master Billiard Supplies reports that the company is very busy and, despite gloomy reports about the state of pool, he is looking forward to the future. The electronic Superleague table, he said, has now completed its extensive but very satisfactory site testing in readiness for a decision by MBS to bring the manufacturing of its tables to the United Kingdom. He told Euroslot: “This decision means we shall be bumping up our spares supplies to give an even better service when we start manufacturing our tables here.” As the industry well knows, MBS acquired the Superleague trade name from Riley Leisure, who never used it on their tables, when the company closed. MBS, according to Lewis, has been conscious of the need to bring to their Superleague brand tables, the Winchester, the Imperial and its latest electronic table the same high quality for which Superleague tables made by the former Hazel Grove company were known. He was delighted to learn about 12 months ago that one of pool’

s most accomplished professional players failed to tell the difference and was under the impression he was using an HGM Superleague table, because of the quality of the cushions, etc., until he was assured by the table supplier he had played on an MBS Superleague model. Eating better than drinking Eating rather than drinking might help pool table manufacturers to beat the effects of the no-smoking ban, according to Sam Leisure’

s Liam Barrett. Barrett recently told Euroslot that the Sam Magno American tables are finding homes in upmarket sites like bowling alleys and high class bars. He said the Magno table was “strikingly different” in style and blended well with contemporary venues. It had the usual Sam assets of ProActive cushions and AccuVend ball release, plus TriB and variable pricing. Smoking and drinking venues might well be hard hit by the smoking ban, he said, and it could well be that venues where food was also sold could remove pool tables in favour of more food tables. But even high class restaurants were prepared to site a pool table provided its quality and appearance was in keeping with the general décor. An example of this could be found in Frankie’s Italian Bar and Grill in Chiswick where a Sam Magno American table with a Borneo cabinet finish had been installed. This site is one of a number of Frankie’s Italian Bar and Grills in London which are operated by a partnership of leading chef Marco Pierre White and jockey Frankie Dettori. Sam Leisure’s interests are not confined to American pool despite their strong interest in that type of pool. They will, said Barrett, be supplying a Sam Atlantic table for the finals of the PubPool £50,000 Challenge due to be held in July as well as a quantity of the same make of table for the BAPTO annual finals in November. Simply Pool ‘s success continues Simply Pool, which started to make pool tables about four years ago in Oldham premises previously occupied by the makers of the Premier range of tables, has every reason to be pleased by its continuing success. Bob Underhill put some of his company’s continuing success down to its presence at this year’s ATEI. “It’s expensive to attend,” he said, “but we find it well worthwhile.” Not that Simply Pool had new tables to show. But cosmetic changes to its standard range, which saw new oak and walnut finishes for its Tournament tables with the former having Optimum price of play fitted and the latter variable pricing through multi-coin mechanism. “The variable pricing feature was of great interest to our European visitors at the show and and we took several orders,” said Underhill. One of the stand’

s attractions was Ross McInnes, arguably the top professional pool player in the UK, give exhibitions throughout the show on an Atlantic eight foot American pool table which is finished in high gloss mahogany. This brought a number of orders for the American table both during and since the show. McInnes is a Simply Pool enthusiast who, with his wife Michaela, a snooker world championship referee, runs Scottish and International Sports Promotions which, in turn, has a two year agreement with Simply Pool to use the company’s tables at its various events. The tables already have good export sales. In France, said Underhill, they should increase even more as a result of the exclusive distribution deal reached with Vincent Noel, of SLF Pool, Rennes, France. A Supreme effort Supreme tables, made by Heywood Pool and Snooker, have long been admired for their high quality at competitive prices. Over the years the company has matured and now has extensive, purpose built warehouse and office accommodation in Lancashire. Customers have a wide range of UK Pool and American Pool tables to choose from and, because of their prices, many smaller operators choose them for their sites. Supreme pool tables have also been the annual choice at the world championship events organised by both the English Pool Association and, in recent years, the World Pool Association. Pool table cloths are an essential part of the game with Hainsworth and Milliken, two of the better known suppliers. The former’s cloths brought a multi-coloured effect to the Simply Pool stand at the ATEI as a range of their colourful products appeared on the tables. Milliken are well known for Strachan cloths and for the ArtScape system which enables brand advertising to appear on the cloth of the pool tables. The ArtScape slogan is: “Any image, any logo, any design, any campaign.” Germany calling The European Blackball Association is running a 2007 Blackball Intercontinental Pool event from Wednesday, August 22 to Saturday, August 25, in the Sauerland-Stern Hotel, Willingen, Germany. Although no details of prizes have been released the championships will include team and individual events in most categories for men, ladies, over 40s, special needs players (individuals), under 21s, under 18s, under 16s and a speed pool competition. The event, according to the EBA, will involve players from Eire, France, Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Swazilznd as well as the UK countries including Shetland Isles and he Isle of Man. Surprisingly, perhaps, Germany is not mentioned among the competing countries.

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